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The following article was part of the the Newham Deanery News 2026 Edition Magazine. An audience gathered on the evening of Friday 17th July for a thought-provoking lecture that examined one of the most pressing questions of the modern age: just because science allows something, does it mean it should be done? Father Daniel Kelly, a Catholic priest and trained bioethicist, delivered a wide ranging talk that moved between theology, philosophy and contemporary medicine with cla

Welcome to Papal Insights for the month of July! We have a shorter one this month as Pope Leo XIV took some time off at his holiday residence in Castel Gandolfo, where both his private and public engagements were more limited than usual. We hope that you all have a restful Summer! Speech, 11th July 2026 Earlier in July, the Holy Father received 200 guests at Castel Gandolfo. These guests were accompanied by the Diocese of Rome, having been identified as living in “vulnerable

Welcome to our round-up for the month of July 2026! July has probably been our busiest month this year, and it has been a delight to be on the road as much as we have been. Ursuline Links Empowering Young Leaders Conference Siân, Director of Caritas Brentwood, had the privilege of speaking at the Ursuline Links Empowering Young Leaders Conference. Presenting alongside Beth (Strategic Project Director, CYMFed) and Kezia (Young Vincentian Officer, SVP), Siân spoke about leaders

Friends of the Holy Land are looking for Volunteer Ambassadors in the Brentwood Diocese. Volunteer Ambassador Role Can you offer them a few hours each month? Are you concerned about the situation in the Holy Land and want to do something practical to help? Are you willing to speak on behalf of your fellow Christians in the Holy Land? Do you have contacts with groups and individuals locally and across Brentwood diocese? What They Need from You A commitment to make up to 8 talk

Million Minutes is a Catholic youth agency that empowers young people to lead transformative social action, placing their voices at the heart of ministry and inspiring action through Catholic Social Teaching. On 15 June, young people accompanied by staff from Million Minutes travelled to London to join the Columban Missionaries Britain for a day centred on faith, social justice and human dignity. As part of the programme, they took part in a peaceful prayer witness in support

A Rocha are celebrating 10 years of their ‘Eco Church’ project with a special event at Chelmsford Cathedral. A Rocha are delighted to invite everyone to Chelmsford Cathedral on Wednesday 30th September 2026 to celebrate 10 years of Eco Church. The ecumenical service will begin at 5:15pm, followed by light refreshments and and an opportunity to meet, chat, share stories and visit the stalls. The panel discussion will commence at 6.30pm. All are welcome! Attendees can come for

Across Newham, many young people report feeling unsafe due to a combination of factors that shape their daily lives. Youth violence remains a significant concern, with social pressures and the influence of gang culture leaving some young people vulnerable to exploitation and criminal activity. Knife crime continues to have a devastating impact, while issues such as poor lighting, isolated streets and limited adult supervision can contribute to young people feeling at greater

St Francis Leprosy Guild is the UK’s Catholic leprosy charity. Inspired by our patron saint, St Francis of Assisi, we have cared for people with leprosy for 130 years. We operate in twelve countries in Africa, Asia, and Brazil, where leprosy is endemic. By supporting over thirty leprosy centres and projects, we play our part in caring for those affected by the disease and working towards a leprosy-free world. We fund research projects, hospitals, rehabilitation centres and ca

In September/October, CHESS Homeless will once again be collecting food donations as part of their Harvest appeal. In recent years, CHESS Homeless have unfortunately seen a decline in donations, and so they are reaching out early in the hope of working together to make this year’s collection as impactful as possible. Food donations are incredibly important to the charity and make a direct difference in three key ways: Supporting rough sleepers – Their Outreach Team works dire

Written by Louis Hopton. Louis is a member of SVP1833 at Durham Catholic Society (Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle) and his home Diocese is Westminster Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Madrid brought millions together to celebrate their Catholic faith. Seven of us from the young adult community of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP1833) joined thirty other wonderful young adult Vincentians from across Europe. A real highlight of the pilgrimage, was the meeting at the Society’s office

St Peter’s Catholic Primary School in Billericay recently hosted its first-ever Catholic Social Teaching (CST) Showcase, bringing together pupils, families, and staff to celebrate the principles at the heart of Catholic life. The hall was filled with work from across the school, and each class offered an interactive activity, allowing families to experience Catholic Social Teaching in action. Highlights from each year group included: Reception – Human Dignity: pupils created

This week, Siân (Director, Caritas Brentwood) and Michael (Development Officer, Caritas Brentwood) travelled to Westminster Cathedral Hall to attend Called to Act, a day conference for Catholic schools organised by Citizens UK. The day itself was an amazing gathering of Catholic member schools of Citizens UK, with schools from across the country. We were proud to see schools from our Diocese there as well, including: St Bonaventure’s Secondary, All Saints Secondary, St Angela